by Melanie Remy | Jan 6, 2022 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Wellness
Progesterone replacement therapy is a type of hormone therapy that boosts progesterone levels to healthy ranges. Progesterone is an important hormone in your body that performs many different functions. Recent evidence suggests that progesterone may also play a role in blood pressure regulation. The risk for high blood pressure goes up after menopause, which is when progesterone is typically low. Researchers are now looking into whether progesterone may help reduce blood pressure risks, with promising results.
Some studies suggest progesterone replacement therapy may help your body regulate blood pressure.
Blood pressure is an important marker of health. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can put you at risk for many different health issues. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can increase the risk for heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and even kidney disease. High blood pressure can damage arteries, blood vessels, and organs over time. Despite all these health risks, high blood pressure often causes zero symptoms on its own. Because of the many negative effects of high blood pressure, experts are exploring many ways to help people reduce their risk for hypertension.
How Progesterone Replacement Therapy Affects Blood Pressure
In the past, many believed that both the female hormones estrogen and progesterone increased blood pressure. This was because many women taking hormone-based birth control and hormone replacement therapy for menopause experienced high blood pressure as a side effect. However, recent research shows that estrogen is the likely culprit for increased blood pressure. Progesterone, by contrast, may have the opposite effect. As a natural diuretic, progesterone may actually lower blood pressure for some women.
Progesterone replacement therapy is often paired with estrogen to treat menopause symptoms. Every patient who still has a uterus is prescribed progesterone alongside estrogen. This is because progesterone helps prevent the uterine lining from becoming too thick, increasing the risk for endometrial cancer. Therefore, in the past many researchers had difficulty separating the effects of progesterone and estrogen for women taking both at the same time. However, progesterone replacement therapy on its own is getting more and more attention. For example, some studies have found progesterone-only therapy may help with menopausal hot flashes.
With more research into progesterone by itself, some have begun to look at the relationship between progesterone and blood pressure. Research is still ongoing, but many studies have found that progesterone replacement therapy either has no effect on blood pressure, or that it may help lower blood pressure. It’s important to discuss your specific circumstances with our treatment providers, but this is encouraging evidence for women who may want to take bioidentical hormone therapy with progesterone for menopause symptoms.
Progesterone May Lower Blood Pressure
Progesterone does many things in the body. It’s responsible for preparing the uterus for potential pregnancy, regulating your menstrual cycle, and keeping estrogen and other hormones in check. Progesterone also seems to help with blood pressure regulation.
Many medical professionals are interested in the relationship between progesterone and blood pressure. After all, blood pressure tends to be quite low during pregnancy, when progesterone levels are high. By contrast, post-menopausal women have a higher risk for high blood pressure, which is when the ovaries start producing significantly less progesterone. There have been several studies into the link between progesterone and blood pressure that indicate it may have a lowering effect on blood pressure.
One 2001 study found that progesterone was independently associated with vascular effects. This essentially means that, outside of estrogen, progesterone may affect the blood vessels. The researchers also found that progesterone changed the blood pressure response to norepinephrine, which typically increases blood pressure. This isn’t the only study to show a positive effect on high blood pressure from progesterone. A small study from 1985 looked at people with hypertension taking progesterone replacement therapy. Researchers looked at six men and four post-menopausal women and saw that blood pressure dropped significantly after taking progesterone. Therefore, these studies suggest progesterone may reduce the risk for hypertension.
How Progesterone Replacement Therapy May Lower Blood Pressure
The hormone progesterone can act as a natural diuretic, which is essentially something that helps your body get rid of extra salt and water through your urine. Diuretics like water pills are also a common treatment option for high blood pressure. This is because they can help reduce the amount of water in your blood, which means there’s less fluid in your veins causing excess pressure. Because of this effect of progesterone in your body, some believe that progesterone replacement therapy may also help lower blood pressure for women with low progesterone.
However, there may be other explanations. For instance, a 2021 study published in the journal Hypertension found that progesterone had three effects that may help reduce blood pressure. This study looked at short-term effects of progesterone on blood pressure. They concluded that progesterone may have a direct impact on blood vessels in the body.
The researchers found that progesterone dilated blood vessels, which can reduce the amount of pressure on the vessel walls. The study also found that progesterone helped prevent an increase in blood pressure that usually comes with exposure to adrenaline-like hormones. Another effect of progesterone the researchers in the 2021 study found was that progesterone helped block calcium intake in the smooth muscle cells. This may work similarly to calcium channel blocker medications, which are also commonly used to treat high blood pressure, as calcium can cause the blood vessels to squeeze tighter and increase blood pressure.
Of course, there may be other potential ways progesterone affects blood pressure. For instance, some believe progesterone may have an indirect effect on blood pressure through BMI. Progesterone replacement therapy may reduce the risk of weight gain and high BMI, which are associated with high blood pressure.
Why Providers May Prescribe Progesterone Replacement Therapy
Our treatment providers may recommend progesterone replacement therapy for a few different reasons. It’s common to use progesterone and estrogen in combination to alleviate menopause symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and mood changes. If you still have a uterus, our providers always prescribe progesterone with estrogen. Progesterone helps counteract the endometrial thickening properties of estrogen to reduce the risk of cancer. Therefore, if you’re taking estrogen for menopause, you will also likely be taking progesterone replacement therapy. In some cases, our medical professionals may also recommend progesterone alone to help with your menopause symptoms.
Progesterone may also serve as a hormone imbalance treatment if you’re suffering from low progesterone. If you have low progesterone levels, other hormones like estrogen and testosterone may be thrown out of balance. This can lead to many concerning symptoms, such as:
- Irregular periods
- Fatigue
- Frequent urinary tract infections
- Frequent vaginal infections
- Breast tenderness
Therefore, there may be many reasons why our providers may prescribe progesterone replacement therapy for you.
What to Do If You Have High Blood Pressure and Menopause Symptoms – Visit HerKare
Our providers at HerKare take a holistic approach to healthcare. If you’re experiencing menopause symptoms, high blood pressure, or other conditions, make an appointment at one of our clinics. We offer personalized treatment solutions to help you feel your best. Our team works with you to find treatment solutions that work for you. For instance, if you have both high blood pressure and menopause symptoms, we may recommend a combination of lifestyle changes, bioidentical hormone therapy, blood pressure medications to address your whole health. Get in touch to learn how we can help you feel better again.
by Melanie Remy | Dec 20, 2021 | Wellness
Low B12 is a serious issue for your health and well-being. Therefore, it’s important to talk to a women’s health care professional if you think you have B12 deficiency. Fortunately, there are treatment options available to increase vitamin B12 in your body and reduce health risks associated with low B12. Let’s talk about B12 deficiency and available treatment solutions.
Why is B12 Therapy Important for Women’s Health Care?
Our women’s health care providers can treat low B12 to help your symptoms and energy levels.
Vitamin B12 is necessary for many functions in your body. B12 helps with red blood cell production, brain function, and nerve tissue health. It also helps your body absorb folic acid, which helps your body make healthy new cells and DNA. People over 14 years old should get at least 2.4 micrograms of vitamin B12 daily. Many people get this necessary amount of B12 from their diet. However, people with low B12 may require treatment with B12 therapy. This is essentially supplementing your natural B12 levels to ensure you have healthy amounts of this necessary vitamin. If you’re not getting enough B12 from your diet, visit our women’s health clinic to determine if you could benefit from B12 therapy.
Talk to Our Women’s Health Care Providers About B12 Deficiency
An estimated 1.5% to 15% of people in the United States have been diagnosed with B12 deficiency. The number of people who are B12 deficient may be much higher, as many people go undiagnosed. Anyone can suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency, but some people are more at risk. For instance, because B12 naturally exists in meat products, vegans and vegetarians may be at a higher risk for B12 deficiency. In addition, people with gastrointestinal issues, such as Crohn’s disease, gastritis, or celiac disease, may also have low B12 because the body may not be able to absorb it properly. Finally, your risk for B12 deficiency also goes up with age, so if you’re 60 years old or older, you may have a higher risk for low vitamin B12. The good news is that your women’s health care provider can help find treatment options if you have B12 deficiency.
B12 Deficiency Symptoms
There are many different symptoms of B12 deficiency. If you notice symptoms of low B12, it’s important to talk to a women’s health care provider to explore treatment options to help you feel better and reduce your health risks.
Some common symptoms of low B12 include:
- Depression
- Confusion
- Memory problems
- Fatigue
- Constipation
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
- Difficulty maintaining your balance
- Anemia symptoms
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Irregular heart beat
- Pale or jaundiced skin
- Glossitis (inflamed tongue)
- Mouth ulcers
- Blurry vision
If you’re suffering from symptoms of low B12, our doctors may look for underlying conditions that may be causing your symptoms. In addition, we may test your B12 levels to determine if you have enough of the vitamin in your blood. If you do have low B12, we can explore treatment options personalized to you.
Long-Term Effects of B12 Deficiency
In addition to the many worrying and difficult symptoms you may experience, B12 deficiency can cause many serious health effects. We’ve mentioned that vitamin B12 plays many necessary roles in your body, which helps explain the many negative effects that B12 deficiency can have on your overall health. Low B12 can lead to anemia and even permanent neurological issues. Those with B12 deficiency also have an increased risk for psychosis, mania, and dementia, likely due to B12’s role in brain health. People with low B12 may also be more susceptible to the effects of infections.
Where Does Vitamin B12 Come From?
B12 is a vitamin most people get enough of from their diet. It is naturally available in meat, fish, and some dairy products. For example, some foods that are high in vitamin B12 include animal liver, clams, beef, and tuna. Also, many other foods are often fortified with B12, such as many cereals, plant milks, fruit juices, nutritional yeasts, margarines, and tofu. However, as we have mentioned, many people don’t get enough B12 from their diet, or their bodies don’t absorb B12 very well, leading to B12 deficiency. In these cases, our women’s health care providers may recommend B12 supplementation through B12 therapy.
How Women’s Health Care Providers Treat B12 Deficiency
There are many different options for vitamin B12 therapy. It’s important to note that B12 therapy is different from multivitamins with B12, as B12 therapy typically features higher levels of the vitamin to help increase levels to healthy ranges for people suffering from B12 deficiency. Three common options for B12 therapy are B12 pills, injections, and sublingual tablets. One type may be better for you than another, so it’s important to discuss your specific circumstances with one of our women’s health care professionals.
B12 Pills
One common option for B12 therapy is taking B12 pills. Once again, these are different from multivitamin supplements. These pills contain a man-made form of vitamin B12. Several studies have found that vitamin B12 pills can be as effective as B12 injections. However, it’s important to note that B12 pills aren’t the best option for everyone. For instance, if you have low B12 due to gastrointestinal conditions, your body may not be able to absorb enough of the vitamin from B12 pills for treatment. Therefore, in these cases, our women’s health care providers may recommend injections or sublingual tablets.
B12 Injections
If B12 pills don’t work for you, typically doctors recommend B12 shots. These are intramuscular injections that help send vitamin B12 to your bloodstream. B12 shots may work well if you have a deficiency linked to malabsorption for the vitamin. Also, many women’s health care providers recommend B12 injections when your levels are seriously low and need quick intervention. B12 shots may offer faster results than oral supplements. Also, injections can often offer higher doses of B12 compared to pills and sublingual options. Therefore, if you need significant doses of B12, our providers may recommend injections for B12 therapy.
Sublingual B12 Tablets
Some people also do well with sublingual B12 tablets to increase B12 levels. These are tablets that you place under the tongue and allow them to dissolve. This allows you to absorb the vitamin through the tissues in your mouth. Sublingual B12 therapies are also an effective way to supplement your B12 levels. This option may help improve absorption for people suffering from poor B12 absorption. However, keep in mind that many people need to take sublingual B12 tablets every day to supplement their normal B12 levels. Some people find it easier to remember their B12 injections compared to treatment with sublingual tablets. Therefore, talk to our women’s health care professionals about which type of B12 therapy may work best for you.
Visit Our Women’s Health Clinic for Vitamin Optimization
Our health care professionals at HerKare are here to help you feel your best. We offer vitamin optimization treatments to help you improve your health. We work with you to identify vitamin deficiencies and find customized treatment solutions for you. Our team can help you address your nutritional needs and also offer supplements when you need them for vitamin deficiencies. Make an appointment to address your health today.
by Melanie Remy | Dec 3, 2021 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause, Wellness
We all know exercise is important for health. Yet, many people don’t get enough exercise on a regular basis for one reason or another. Several surveys and studies have also found that women are typically much less active after menopause than before menopause. Many scientists believe this may be due to hormone changes during menopause, particularly lower estrogen levels. Researchers are still studying the relationship between estrogen and activity levels. However, some studies suggest estrogen replacement therapy may help you feel more motivated and may even increase your capacity to work out.
Why Exercise is Important During and After Menopause
Many women exercise less after menopause, but can estrogen replacement therapy help with exercising?
Before we learn more about how estrogen affects exercise, let’s talk about why exercise is so important as we get older and approach menopause. There are many reasons to be physically active throughout your life, including weight management, increasing muscle tone, getting stronger, and improving your overall health. Regular exercise is even more important as you reach menopause to help counteract certain health risks that increase around this time.
As hormone levels begin to decline, bone density and lean muscle mass begin to decline as well, while body fat can increase. Around this time in a woman’s life, there’s also a higher risk for many chronic diseases as well as cardiovascular disease. Engaging in an active lifestyle can help reduce these risks for many people. Regular physical activity helps promote bone health and muscle mass and can also help with body fat management. Exercise in later life can help improve and preserve flexibility and mobility and can also improve heart health. Regular exercise has also been linked to fewer instances of chronic diseases common as we get older.
In addition to physical health, exercise can also be helpful for other areas of well-being, such as mental health. Being physically active can also boost energy and mood and can even help combat some of the symptoms of menopause, such as insomnia. Overall, exercise can be an important part of maintaining quality of life as we get older.
Despite knowing that exercise is helpful for many areas of health, many women have a difficult time exercising on a regular basis, particularly after menopause. There may be many reasons for this, but some researchers believe hormonal imbalances may be a factor. Many studies are researching hormones, exercise, and whether estrogen replacement therapy after menopause can help improve activity levels for some women.
Estrogen Replacement Therapy Improves Menopause Symptoms that Make it Hard to Work Out
Menopause can cause many symptoms that can make everyday life difficult or even downright impossible. Hot flashes, insomnia, fatigue, and depression are all common symptoms of menopause that affect your quality of life. These also frequently make it difficult to exercise, which may explain why many women are more sedentary after menopause. It’s easy to understand why you might have a hard time going to the gym when you’re experiencing such troublesome symptoms. Working up a sweat can be anxiety-inducing if you’re already suffering from frequent and severe hot flashes. Insomnia and fatigue can leave you feeling worn out, making a workout sound plain exhausting. Menopause depression can zap your motivation for getting your heart pumping with a quick exercise routine. This is one theory behind why lower activity levels tend to coincide with declining estrogen levels during menopause.
The good news is hormone replacement therapy relieves many women’s menopause symptoms. Hormone therapy helps replace some of the hormones lost during menopause, which may improve your symptoms. As menopause symptoms improve, many people find it easier to take part in regular exercise for your health and well-being. This may be one explanation behind why menopausal women who use estrogen replacement therapy tend to be more active than those who don’t according to research.
Hormone Replacement Therapy with Estrogen May Act on the Brain to Increase Exercise Motivation
However, there are other theories behind how hormones affect exercise after menopause. Some believe estrogen may have a more direct effect on exercise. A new study suggests estrogen may act on the brain to improve motivation for exercise. The study looked at estrogen levels and physical activity levels in female mice to determine if hormones play a role in exercise.
The urge to exercise begins in the brain. You feel motivated to exercise, so you act on that motivation. There are also many estrogen receptors in the brain, which may affect your impulse to work out. The study looked at how estrogen affected brain processes through a specific gene. Melanocortin-4 receptor gene (Mc4r), is a gene that plays an important role in energy regulation, food intake, body weight, and the motivation for physical activity. Estrogen binds to the Mc4r receptor and can help activate it. With higher estrogen levels, Mc4r caused increased protein production for the mice in the study. Those mice with higher estrogen levels tended to be more physically active than the mice with lower estrogen.
Researchers are still studying the effects of estrogen on the brain. However, the scientists in the study believe this may offer some evidence that estrogen is important for exercise motivation. The researchers noted that while the study involved mice, humans have similar anatomies, physiologies, and genetics. Therefore, they believe estrogen in humans may have similar effects on exercise and physical activities. They noted that their research may suggest that estrogen replacement therapy may help improve motivation levels for exercise for menopausal women.
Estrogen Replacement Therapy Can Increase Exercise Capacity
Menopause can also affect how difficult exercise is, which may explain why many women are less active after menopause. Research shows that menopause may reduce exercise tolerance and oxygen consumption during exercise. This can make it feel harder to exercise, often leading to feeling more breathless, feeling muscle weakness, and other symptoms of low exercise tolerance, which can be discouraging and lead many women to exercise less than before menopause.
One study looked at exercise capacity for women before and after menopause. The researchers looked at many different factors to determine exercise capacity, which is the maximum amount of activity you can keep up. Some of the factors included the dilation of blood vessels, maximum workload, and peak oxygen consumption. Some of the group received estrogen replacement therapy for three months. The study found that estrogen significantly increased exercise capacity based on the factors they measured. The HRT group even achieved similar results to the pre-menopausal women in the study after just three months of hormone therapy. Therefore, this is just one other way estrogen may help with exercise after menopause.
Hormone Imbalance Treatment and Menopause Care at HerKare
Our team at HerKare is committed to providing quality healthcare for women at all stages of life. We help with everything from hormone imbalance treatment to well woman care for patients of all ages. We believe in empowering women to take an active role in their health. Our clinic is owned and managed by women for women. We understand the need for convenient care from healthcare professionals that listen to you and take time to understand. Let us help you feel like yourself and feel good again. Book an appointment at one of our clinic locations to get started with the HerKare process.
by Melanie Remy | Nov 29, 2021 | Aesthetics
When you’re looking for innovative aesthetic treatments for deep wrinkles around your nose and mouth, Sculptra® dermal fillers may be a great option for you. Deep facial lines and wrinkles make many people feel self-conscious. Treatments to help reduce the appearance of these wrinkles can help you feel more confident. Sculptra injections are a simple, convenient option for natural-looking results for wrinkles on your face.
What Are Sculptra Aesthetic Treatments?
Sculptra fillers are aesthetic treatments to help reduce deep wrinkles on your face by boosting collagen production.
Sculptra is one of the aesthetic injectables we offer at our clinics. These dermal fillers are injected into the skin to help reverse the signs of aging, such as deep wrinkles, folds, and creases. Sculptra fillers contain poly L lactic acid (PLLA), which helps stimulate collagen production in your dermis. Collagen is the protein that makes up the structure of your skin. As we age, collagen production slows down, which can lead to your face looking hollow, sunken, or deeply creased. Sculptra aesthetic injections are typically used to treat deep lines around the nose and mouth, such as smile lines and chin wrinkles.
Sculptra is an innovative option for aesthetic treatments. Other fillers, like Juvéderm® and Restylane®, use hyaluronic acid gel, which sits under the skin to fill in problem areas. These fillers are great for smaller, finer lines and wrinkles, they typically aren’t recommended for deep wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid fillers also typically last for 6 to 18 months. Sculptra, on the other hand, gets deep into the dermis to help increase your natural collagen production. This can help with deeper wrinkles and adding volume to hollow or empty areas. Results can last for up to two years before needing retreatment, often just one injection per year afterwards. Because Sculptra injections target collagen production, they help target the cause of wrinkles, rather than simply masking the effects.
How Do Sculptra Dermal Fillers Work?
If you’re interested in Sculptra injections, the first step is making an appointment with our team to discuss your options and get a consultation. This appointment is where we talk about your desired results and expectations, the particulars of the treatment based on your situation, and discuss the potential risks and side effects. If you’re a good candidate for Sculptra dermal fillers, then our aesthetic professionals perform the treatment in our office. This involves injecting the Sculptra poly L lactic acid gel into areas of your face to stimulate collagen production for a more youthful appearance.
After Sculptra aesthetic treatments, you can typically go back to your normal activities immediately after. You might experience mild symptoms or side effects such as swelling, tenderness, redness, or bruising. These typically get better within a few days. To help with any swelling or tenderness, you can use cold compresses on your face for a few minutes at a time. In most cases you can also use makeup to cover any light bruising you experience.
An important part of recovery is to massage the treated area. This helps distribute the Sculptra gel. While it’s important to talk about your specific instructions with our provider, typically this involves massaging the area for about five minutes at a time, five times a day, for five days after treatment.
You might notice results immediately after treatment, but it can take several weeks to a couple of months to see full results. In addition, you may need multiple treatments. Many women receive three treatments over the course of three or four months for optimal results.
Advantages of Sculptra Aesthetic Treatments
Sculptra dermal fillers offer many benefits for people looking to improve the look of wrinkles and achieve a more youthful appearance on the face. Our aesthetic professionals can discuss these treatments based on your unique circumstances and expectations, but here are a few reasons why so many people are choosing Sculptra injections for facial rejuvenation.
Natural, Gradual Results from Sculptra Aesthetic Treatments
Sculptra aesthetic treatments are a minimally-invasive way to get natural-looking results for deep wrinkles. Because poly L lactic acid stimulates your body’s collagen production, these injectables offer gradual and natural results. Collagen takes around four to eight weeks to produce after Sculptra treatments, so your skin can improve over time. Therefore, these are a good solution if you want a more youthful look without having people ask you whether you’ve had work done.
Long-Lasting Results for Facial Rejuvenation
Another great benefit of this innovative aesthetic treatment is that it offers long-lasting results. While everyone is different, results can last up to two years without more injections. This is longer than many other types of dermal fillers. In addition, some people may need only one treatment a year afterwards to help maintain their Sculptra results.
Aesthetic Treatments for Deep Wrinkles and Folds
Sculptra dermal fillers are also one of the few minimally-invasive options to help with deep lines and wrinkles. Other fillers or even neurotoxins like Botox are typically recommended for fine lines and wrinkles. Therefore, if you have severe wrinkles around your mouth and nose, Sculptra may offer better results than many other aesthetic treatments. Our team can help you determine which treatments are right for you based on your health and desired results.
Practically No Downtime with Sculptra
Also, Sculptra aesthetic injectables don’t require downtime for most people. In fact, many people leave our office and go right back to their normal activities. Unlike cosmetic surgery, there’s generally no need to take off weeks of work for recovery or avoid certain activities. Aside from massaging the treated area throughout the day, recovery is pretty simple for most people.
Disadvantages of Sculptra Aesthetic Injectables
Of course, Sculptra injections aren’t right for everyone, and there are some disadvantages. It’s important to understand these disadvantages, too, so you can make the right choice for you. Our providers can help you weigh the risks and benefits during your consultation, but here are a couple of disadvantages that may lead you to explore different options.
You Need Patience
We mentioned that the results from Sculptra are typically gradual, which for some people is a great benefit, but for others it’s a drawback. For these aesthetic treatments, you need patience to see results, as they can take one to three months to see and you may need multiple treatments. Other treatments, like hyaluronic acid fillers, are often instant, which can make waiting for Sculptra results difficult for some people. If you are looking for fast results, other treatments may be better for you.
You Can’t Use Sculptra on the Lips or Eyes
If you have crows feet or wrinkles close to your lips, then you may be better off looking at other options. Sculptra isn’t recommended for use around the eyes or on the lips. Sculptra is approved for treating wrinkles in specific areas of the face, like smile lines and chin wrinkles. Therefore, if you’re looking for wrinkle treatments near the eyes and lips, consider other options.
Medical-Grade Aesthetic Treatments at HerKare
Our team at HerKare is here to help you feel your best, which we know often means looking your best, too. We offer non-invasive and minimally-invasive aesthetic treatments to help enhance your appearance. Our clinic offers individualized solutions based on your unique circumstances and lifestyle. Make an appointment today to talk to our providers about aesthetic treatment options.
by Melanie Remy | Nov 19, 2021 | Menopause
Any type of vaginal bleeding after menopause is a sign to visit our gynecologist. Vaginal bleeding is not normal after you have reached menopause, which is 12 months without a period. If you’re experiencing postmenopausal bleeding, this is typically a symptom of an underlying health conditions, some of which can be serious or life-threatening. Let’s talk about what to do if you noticed postmenopausal bleeding, what to expect at our clinic, and some common causes of vaginal bleeding after menopause.
Vaginal Bleeding After Menopause? Visit our Gynecologist
Vaginal bleeding after menopause isn’t normal. Your gynecologist can help address your symptoms.
Any time you experience vaginal bleeding after menopause, it’s important to discuss your symptoms with a women’s health care professional. While there is no reason to panic, you should take abnormal vaginal bleeding seriously, whether you’re experiencing light spotting or heavy flow.
An estimated 4% to 11% of women experience postmenopausal bleeding for one reason or another. Many women mistakenly believe that a little bleeding after menopause is no cause for concern and put off getting healthcare. However, we advise scheduling a gynecological services appointment as soon as possible to talk about your symptoms. While it may be something benign, postmenopausal bleeding can also be a sign of serious conditions like endometrial cancer. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so talk to one of our providers about abnormal bleeding.
What Will the Gynecologist Do for Postmenopausal Bleeding?
It’s understandable that you might be concerned about visiting our gynecologist to talk about postmenopausal bleeding. We realize that knowing what to expect during your appointment can help you feel more prepared and may help you feel better before and during your appointment. If you’re experiencing vaginal bleeding after menopause, our treatment providers may recommend a few things to help with diagnosis. In addition to talking about your symptoms, medical history, and relevant family history, the gynecologist may recommend different exams and procedures to help find the root cause.
Our Gynecologist will Likely Perform a Pelvic Exam
If you’re experiencing abnormal vaginal bleeding, our gynecologist will typically perform a pelvic exam. Pelvic exams can help our providers assess the health of your reproductive organs, like the vagina, uterus, cervix, and ovaries. During the exam, our provider may also screen for cervical cancer with a Pap test if you have abnormal vaginal bleeding.
Our Gynecologist May Recommend an Ultrasound
In some cases, our gynecologist may recommend a pelvic ultrasound to get a closer look at your pelvic and to help determine the source of your postmenopausal bleeding. This ultrasound may be abdominal or it may be transvaginal. Transvaginal ultrasounds use a thin imaging “wand” placed inside the vagina to get more detailed pictures of your pelvic organs.
Our Gynecologist May Recommend Diagnostic Surgery
While less common, sometimes our doctors may recommend a diagnostic surgery called a hysteroscopy. This procedure allows the doctor to look inside your uterus with a small camera to look for potential causes of postmenopausal bleeding. During the procedure, the doctor may also take a tissue sample to send to the lab for testing to help diagnose the source of your abnormal vaginal bleeding.
Talk to Our Gynecologist about Possible Causes of Postmenopausal Bleeding
There may be many causes of your postmenopausal bleeding. Some of these causes are more serious than others. Visiting our women’s health clinic can help identify underlying causes of your postmenopausal vaginal bleeding and help determine a course of treatment to help relieve your symptoms.
Uterine or Cervical Polyps
Polyps are small, noncancerous growths. If you’re suffering from vaginal bleeding after menopause, polyps in the uterus or cervix may be to blame. Polyps can easily become irritated and bleed, which can lead to spotting or even heavy vaginal bleeding. Uterine and cervical polyps are pretty common and are unlikely to become malignant, but when they cause symptoms like vaginal bleeding, generally gynecologists recommend removing them with a surgical procedure.
Vaginal Atrophy
Low estrogen levels during menopause can cause vaginal atrophy, which is where the skin becomes thin and dry. Vaginal atrophy can make the vagina more delicate and more prone to tears which can lead to vaginal bleeding. For instance, if you experience vaginal bleeding after sex, it may be due to friction. If this is the cause of your postmenopausal bleeding, our treatment providers may recommend vaginal moisturizers, vaginal estrogen, or lubricants to help.
Thickening Uterine Lining
In some cases, you may experience endometrial thickening after menopause that causes vaginal bleeding. This is called endometrial hyperplasia and while it is not cancer, it can increase your risk for endometrial or uterine cancer. Depending on your risk factors, our gynecologist may recommend taking progesterone to thin out your uterine lining. For women with higher risks for cancer, you may consider a hysterectomy as treatment.
Some Medications
Certain medications can also cause vaginal bleeding as a side effect. For instance, some women experience postmenopausal bleeding when taking blood thinners. Postmenopausal women taking hormone replacement therapy can experience vaginal bleeding as a side effect for the first six months of treatment. If you’re experiencing bleeding after menopause due to medications, we may explore changing your medications or recommend closely monitoring your symptoms to see if they change or get worse to determine if you may benefit from changing medications.
Infections
While rarer, endometrial infections can cause inflammation and vaginal bleeding after menopause. Doctors will generally prescribe antibiotics to help treat bacterial uterine infections. After treatment, your symptoms such as abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge should improve.
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Another rare cause of postmenopausal bleeding are sexually transmitted infections. Infections like chlamydia or gonorrhea can cause inflammation that may lead to abnormal vaginal bleeding. In these cases, treating the STI generally stops the postmenopausal bleeding.
Endometrial Cancer
While it’s rare, postmenopausal bleeding can be a sign of endometrial cancer. Endometrial cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lining of the uterus. About 10% of women who experience postmenopausal bleeding have endometrial cancer. However, an estimated 90% of women with endometrial cancer experience postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. Therefore, while endometrial cancer isn’t a common cause of postmenopausal bleeding, it can be an early warning sign of endometrial cancer. When caught early, the five-year survival rate is approximately 95%. In later stages, the survival rate is much lower. Because of the seriousness of endometrial cancer, most doctors recommend visiting a gynecologist to talk about postmenopausal bleeding and any other symptoms you’re experiencing.
Gynecological and Women’s Health Care from HerKare
Our health professionals at HerKare are here to empower you to take control of your health. We provide total women’s health care for every stage of life. Whether you need preventative care or are experiencing concerning symptoms, we offer quality care in our warm, welcoming clinics. As a clinic owned and operated by women for women, we are here to provide health care that suits your lifestyle. Make an appointment at one of our clinics today.
